France holds the world's standard for the kilogram weight. It's a cylinder-shaped object that has dictated all other kilogram weights for 130 years now. As it's made from platinum-iridium though, the US is concerned it's no longer accurate. Whoops?

Housed in France's International Bureau of Weights and Measures, the weight is actually the yardstick the ampere, mole and candela units are measured by. While the kilogram hasn't changed much over those 130 years, it's enough cause for concern that the US' National Institute of Standards and Technology has stated they're going to lodge a formal complaint at next year's General Conference on Weights and Measures.

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Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall as (kilograms of) shit hits the fan then? [GizMag]